# Metabolic enzymes aldo-2 and pdhb-1 as potential epigenetic regulators during C. elegans embryogenesis

**Authors:** Sonia Ravanelli, Ji Young Cecilia Park, Chantal Wicky, Collin Y. Ewald, Ferdinand von Meyenn

PMC · DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.001222 · 2024-06-13

## TL;DR

This study shows that metabolic enzymes ALDO-2 and PDHB-1 may regulate epigenetics during C. elegans embryonic development.

## Contribution

The study identifies ALDO-2 and PDHB-1 as novel epigenetic regulators in C. elegans embryogenesis.

## Key findings

- RNAi screening revealed ALDO-2 and PDHB-1 as potential epigenetic regulators in C. elegans.
- Reduced chromatin remodeler LET-418/Mi2 activity rescues embryonic lethality caused by enzyme suppression.
- The findings suggest a link between glucose/pyruvate metabolism and chromatin remodeling during development.

## Abstract

The intersection of metabolic processes and epigenetic regulation during embryogenesis is crucial yet not fully understood. Through a candidate RNAi screen in
Caenorhabditis elegans
, we identified metabolic enzymes
ALDO-2
and
PDHB-1
as potential epigenetic regulators. Mild alteration of the chromatin remodeler
LET-418
/Mi2 activity rescues embryonic lethality induced by suppressing

aldo-2

or

pdhb-1
,

suggesting a critical role for glucose and pyruvate metabolism in chromatin remodeling during embryogenesis. Given the conservation of central metabolic pathways and chromatin modifiers across species, our findings lay the foundation for future mechanistic investigations into the interplay between epigenetics and metabolism during development and upon disease.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** ALDOB (aldolase, fructose-bisphosphate B) [NCBI Gene 229], pdhb-1 (Pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 component subunit beta, mitochondrial) [NCBI Gene 177108], let-418 (Protein let-418) [NCBI Gene 178970]
- **Species:** Caenorhabditis elegans (taxon 6239)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** let-418 (Protein let-418) [NCBI Gene 178970], aldo-2 (Fructose-bisphosphate aldolase 2) [NCBI Gene 175827], pdhb-1 (Pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 component subunit beta, mitochondrial) [NCBI Gene 177108]
- **Diseases:** embryonic lethality (MESH:D020964)
- **Chemicals:** pyruvate (MESH:D019289), glucose (MESH:D005947)
- **Species:** C. elegans [taxon 328850], Caenorhabditis elegans (species) [taxon 6239]

## Figures

1 figure with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11211921/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11211921